Cutting and sorting of paper and like sheets from continuous webs



my 1 1943. P. T. GOLDNEY ETAL 2,318,937

CUTTING AND SORTING OF PAPER AND LIKE SHEETS FROM CONTINUOUS WBBS FiledJune 24, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 1.

NVENT'ORS ATTORNEY May 11, 19 43.

P. T. GOLDNEY ET AL CUTTING AND SORTING OF PAPER AND LIKE SHEETS FROMCONTINUOUS WEBS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1941 Fig. 1a.

INVENTORQ ATTORNEY May 11, 1943. P. T. GOLDNEY ET AL 2,313,937

CUTTING AND SURTING ()F PAPER AND LIKE SHEETS FROM CONTINUOUS WEBS FiledJune 24, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 2.

ATTOFPNEY May 11, 1943. P. T. GOLDNEY ET AL CUTTING AND SORTING OF PAPERAND LIKE SHIIETS FROM CONTINUOUS WEBS Filed June 24, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet4 A TTORNE Y- y 1943- P. T. GOLDNEY ET AL ,318,937

CUTTING AND SORTING OF PAPER AND LIKE SHEETS FROM CONTINUOUS WEBS FiledJune 24, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS v ATTORNEY y 1943- P. T.GOLDNEY ET AL 2,318,937

CU'I TING AND SORTING OF PAPER AND LIKE SHEETS FROM CONTINUOUS WEBSFiled June 24, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CUTTING AND SORTING OF PAPER AND LIKE SHEETS FROMCONTINUOUS WEBS Philip Tom Goldney, Dartford, and Alfred George Hingley,Bristol, England Application June 24, 1941, Serial No. 399,536 In GreatBritain June 2'7, 1940 16 Claims.

' ual labour and have in consequence tended to retard production.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved methodand means for cutting a continuous web into sheet form and for simultaneously rejecing defective sheets and if desired at the same timecounting the sheets approved as sound.

According to the improved method constituting this invention thematerial is examined for defects while still in the web and movingtowards the cutting point in a sheet cutting machine, and a sheetdeflecting device is provided which by the operation of means under thecontrol of the op erative inspecting the web can'be projected into thepath of any one of the detached sheets with an appropriate time lag toallow for the travel of the paper from the scanning position whereexamination for defects occurs to the point where the deflectorintervenes for the purpose of removing to a reject pile the sheetscontaining the defect. This invention therefore also consists inproviding for use with a sheet cutting machine certain attachmentsincluding a movable deflector adapted when required to project into thepath of the cut sheets for the purpose of directing certain selectedsheets to a reject container, a scanning table over, which passes thecontinuous web travelling towards the cutter, indicating means adaptedto denote the position relatively to the web severing cuts to be made ofany defect observed in the web and a hand operated control device whichwhen manipulated will cause the deflector to be actuated with a time lag.appropriate to the travel of the paper from the scanning device to thedeflector. In cases where the machine is furnished with a mechanicalcounting device for counting the sheets delivered by the cutting machinemeans may be provided for subtracting one from the counter reading oneach occasion a defective sheet is diverted to the reject container bythe action of the deflector.

To enable the invention to be better understood reference will now behad to the accompanying drawings wherein an improved sheet cutting,sorting and counting machine is illustrated schematically by way ofexample.

In these drawings- Figures 1 and la show in perspective that part of themachine embodying the supply roll and the scanning table.

Figures 2 and 2* show in perspective that part of the machine whereinthe web is cut into sheets i and the sorting and counting of the sheetsoccurs.

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of details embodied in themachine.

the height of the pile of sheets progresses. in order to provide for thesorting of the sheets Referring now to the machine shown generally inFigures 1 and 2 it will be seen that a continuous web of paper a unwoundfrom a supply roll I by the action of suitable draw rolls, one of whichappears at b, is at regular intervals cut across into sheets by arotating transverse cutting knife-3|, and the severed sheets so formedare conveyed by endless tapes 2'! to a platform or table 25 which may belowered automatically as Now in accordance with this invention, there isfurnished. adjacent the delivery end of the machine a supplementaryplatform or table 24 adapted to receive rejected or faulty sheets and amovable deflector device 22 is furnished which when projected into thepath of a sheet coming from the tapes 2! will divert it to a further setof conveyor tapes 23 serving to convey the defective sheet to the rejectplatform or table 24. Under normal circumstances this deflector deviceremains inoperative and the cut sheets pass directly to the pile on theplatform 25, but it can be brought into the path of any selected sheetfor the purpose of diverting the latter to the reject pile on theplatform 24 by the manipulation of a device under the control of theoperative scanning the web for defects.

On the supply side of the machine (see Figure 1) where the continuousweb a from the supply reel l is led over and under guide rolls 2, 3 and4 on its way towards the cutting knife 3|, there is provided a scanningtable 0 for the purpose of facilitating the detection of defects. Thisscanning table may conveniently consist of a sheet of frosted oropalescent glass illuminated from beneath as by a number of electriclamps d so that it will cause defects occurring in the paper web apassing over the table 0 to be thrown into greater prominence. Thisscanning table should have a width at least as great as that of the webto be cut and a length which is preferably not less than that of thelargest sheet to be cut.

Now since the paper web a passing over the scanning table gives noindication of the points where severance will occur means must beprovided to denote to the operator examining the web the proper instantfor operating the control device for bringing the sheet deflector 22into position for rejecting a sheet. With this end in view therefore oneor more moving markers coacting with a stationary marker are providedfor indicating artificially the points where severance of the web willoccur and consequently the particular sheet in which any defect observedwill exist when cutting has been effected. The stationary marker mayconsist of a wire held taut transversely over the web or a dark linemade across the scanning table might suifice while the moving marker ormarkers may consist of taut wires, such as 6, extending transversely ofthe underside of the web said wires being carried between two endlesschains 1, I operating in unison and at such a speed as to ensure thateach occasion the movable and stationary markers come into alignmentthere will exist between said markers and the cutting knife 3| a lengthof the web material which is a multiple of the length of the unit sheetsbeing cut. To assist adjustments of the machine being made to suit thecutting of larger or smaller sheets there may be provided intermediatethe scanning table and the cutting knives a movable roll such as theguide roll 4 about which the web is passed in a loop or bight the lengthof which can be varied to adapt the machine to any size of sheet to becut. Similarly means may be provided for varying the speed of travel ofthe movable markers in adapting the machine to cut longer or shortersheets.

Assuming as in the case under consideration the stationary marker 5 issituated intermediate the ends of the scanning table and that when themoving and stationary markers come into alignment they denote a line onwhich severance of the web will occur it follows that at the instantwhen the markers align the operator examining the web for defects willthen be observing the trailing portion of one sheet to be and theleading portion of the following'sheet to be. Furthermore since it is ator about the moment when the markers align that the operator actuates,if necessary, the control means bringing the rejector into action withan appropriat time lag, there are provided two such control elements,one or the other or both of which may be actuated according to whether adefect is observed before or behind or defects are observedsimultaneously both before and behind the line of the markers. Anysuitable means may be employed for controlling the mechanism. Suchcontrol may be in the nature of electric press buttons A and B shown inFigure 1.

In the constructional arrangement herein illustrated, the control meanscomprises a number of trip levers l0 mounted at regular intervals uponan endless traveller such as the endless chain I l, the spacing of theseand the rate of travel of the chain being such that the trip levers passa given point with the same frequency as that at which the sheets arecut. The trip levers ID in the course of their travel pass twodisplaceable abutments which are normally clear of the path of saidlevers. These abutment are spaced apart by the same amount as twoadjacent trip levers on the chain and each is directly or indirectlyactuated by one of the two press buttons A and B or other suitablecontrol elements. Thus where electric press buttons are used as initialcontrol elements they may cause a current to flow in one or another oftwo solenoids 8, 8 This will bring about a movement of one of thecorresponding abutments 9 or 9 by attracting the armature 8a of themagnet which is pivoted at 8b and integrally connected with the abutmentas shown, throwing the abutment into the path of the approaching triplever ID, which is thus displaced from its normal position. At a furtherpoint in the travel of the trip lever i0 corresponding to 75 -can bewithdrawn from the movement of the paper web from the scanning table tothe cutting knife 3|, the lever passes a switch element l2 which isoperated only if the passing trip lever is in the displaced condition,such switch causing in turn the energizing of a further solenoid i5 (seeFigure 2) controlling the operation of the sheet rejecting device 22.The switch element i2 is preferably made adjustable with reference toguide rails i3 on which it is supported in order that a suitable timingof the mechanism in relation to the size of the sheet being cut may bearranged. After passing the active switch element l2 the trip leverapproaches a re-setting abutment M which serves to restore it to anormal or neutral position as well as any other displaced trip leverswhich have acted upon the switch. 7

Now since it is practically essential to have the sheet rejecting device22 accurately timed with respect to the travel of the sheets conveyedfrom the cutter it is convenient to provide for its operation by a caml9 rotating in unison with the cutting knives. A cam lever l8 associatedwith this cam I9 is link 20 and lever 2| with the sheet rejectingelement 22 but these parts are normally held in an inoperative positionby a latch element I! which the cam lever by the plunger I6 of thefurther solenoid I5 above mentioned thereby freeing the cam lever i8 andallowing it under spring influence to follow the contour of the cam I9and cause the deflector 22 to be projected into the path of the cutsheets. In this connection it must be understood that the influence ofthe solenoid l5 upon the latch I1 is of a temporary nature only so thatwhen the cam completes its turn and imparts its maximum lift to thelever the latch I! is again restored to a position for holding saidlever l8 and the sheet deflector 22 inoperative until the solenoid I 5influencing the latch I! is again energised.

If desired the trip levers may be arranged to co-act in turn with twodifierent switch elements such as l2 and l2 Figure l, the first of whichcauses the further solenoid l5 to be energised and the second of whichcauses it to be de-energised or the trip lever may make a more or lessprolonged connection with a single switch device which while closedcauses the further solenoid Hi to remain energised. Any suitablemechanical or electrical resetting device may be provided for restoringthe trip levers to the normal position after passing the switch orswitches which they influence.

Also the movable abutments 9, El employed for displacing the trip leversIll arearranged, despite the instantaneous actuation of the operator'spress buttons A and B, to remain in an active position at least untilthe next passing trip lever is displaced, there being provided alsosuitable means to restore to a normal and neutral position suchabutments immediately after the displacement of the trip levers isefiected. As will be appreciated it is very convenient and also usual tofurnish a sheet cutting machine with an automatic counting device suchas 30 which registers the number of cut sheets delivered. Where such adevice is furnished it is proposed in accordance with this invention todrive said counter from the sheet cutting mechanism through the mediumof a differential gear 32 one element of which is normally heldstationary by a toothed sector 28 connected with the sheet rejectingmechanism 22.

The main drive to the counter is in this case responsive to all sheetscoming from the cutter but operatively connected as by the aersgosvas'it is desired that the counter shallregister accuratelyithe number ofsound sheets delivered, the toothed sector 28 acting through'a pinion 29and ratchet driveis arranged to setizthetcounter 30 back one.everyloccasionjthe sheet rejectin mechanism 22 comes into'operation; Ifdesired theacounter may be arrangedto sound a bell or other signal onthe delivery 'of a ream-or any other desired number of sound sheets'and'automatic means mayalso be provided toinsert into thepilesimultaneously a paper 'sliporequ-ivalent markerto denote the separate=ream siinthe pile.

In operating this improved machine the paper web a whilelrunning overtheilluminated scanning table is kept under observation by the ma chineoperative and thevmotion 0f the moving marker 6 in relation to the-fixedmarker is also observed so that when co-incidence' of these two occursone mother orboth of the control buttons A and B may be actuated ifat'that instant any defect or defects should be noted in that part orthe weboverlying the scanningtable. -Thus a'ssuming a defectis observed"on that side'ofthe markers towards the supply reel the mutton- A wouldbe actuated and in consequence the sole noid 8 'and movable abutmentwill cause adisplacement of the next passing trip lever.- Onthe otherhand should a defect-be observed in the web on that side towards thecutter the butto'n' B would be actuated causing t he solenoid B and theabutment 9 to act upon the previous trip lever of the series.Should'defects'be observed both in front and behind the-marker line bothbuttons would be pressed together withthe result that two adjacenttriplevers would be displaced;

As has already been explained the motion of the I conveyor l I isregulated in relation to the speed of traverse of the webin such a waythat bythe time a portion of the web containing an observed defectreaches the cutter, the'relativ'e trip lever displaced by action of theoperative will reach the switch element l2 and bring intoperformance-the sheet deflecting device 22 just as the detachedsheetapproaches the point where the deflector is situate. This movementof the deflector not only causes the ejected sheet to be conveyed to thereject pile but at'the same time the move: ment of the toothed-sector'28 by rotating the pin ion 29 and the differential gear 32 setsback by one the reading on the counting register 30.

We claim: 1 I

1. An improved apparatus for cutti'ng' a ton: tinuous web into sheetform and simultaneously separating defective sheets from sound sheetscomprising a sheet cutting machine, 'a deflector deviceadapted on beingactuatedto divert to a reject pile a sheet coming from the cutter, ascanning table over which the web passes before reaching the cutterpoint, means under the control of an operative whereby the deflectordevice may be rendered active after a predetermined lapse of time, saidcontrol means upon actuation causing the displacement of one of a seriesof elements carried upon an endlesscon' veyor, said displaced elementbeing arranged after traveling a suitable distance and timeto transmitan impulse bringing into action the sheet deflector device, and meansfor restoring to the normal or neutral position the displaced elementsafter the required impulse transmission has occurred.

2. Apparatus for cutting a continuous web into sheet form and separatingdefective sheets from perfect sheets; comprising a scanning means overmoving in" the "di ctio'n -of m'ovement of the web indicator, themechanism 'being so constructed and arrang'ed that pen movement of saidindicators intoa p e'de'terx'niiied relation '-'th'ere will exist'b'etween the icators' and -the cutter a length -o'f web which is: ar'n'ultipleof the length of the sheets being ut, and manually controlledmechanism w h upon dperation when the in- 'redeterniifiedrelationandth'e web s'ho'ws' defe'cts upon either 'si'dejoFthe' indicators,efiects'the' rejeetion' o'f that sheetcut from the web'enahavmg niedefecttherein." c3. nppamtus= as" s t forth in claim 2 withmeansmrwarymg "the length's'of the sheet unit's. 4. Apparatus as setforth in claim 2 in'which said manually controlled mechanism comprises aserie'S of os'cilla'tableirip members movable along a; prescribed path,means for selectively throwing the tripmembersto an operative 'posinon,an' electrically actuated defective sheet throw-01f 1 means, *and a'control switch for said throw-off means arranged'- to be erased by anoperative trip m'emberfollowing the detection of adefect'in the websheet:

5.*Apparatus for cutting a continuous web into sheet form 'andseparatingdefective sheets from perfect sheets;- comprising means for c'uttingtheweb into sheet units; means for carrying the sheet units away from thecutting means, means for receiving the sheet units from the carriermeansya defective sheet carry-off means leading 'from "said carriermeans, and a shiftable defective sheet diverting means adapted to bemoved intoa position to divert a defective sheet to the defective sheetcarry-off means.

which the web passes, a cutting means for the 6. Apparatus 'for cuttinga continuous web into sheet-form and separating defective sheets fromperfect -sheets; comprising means for cutting the web into sheefiunits,a sheet unit receiving conveyor leading from 'the cutting means, a sheetunit receiver atthe dischargeend of the conveyor, a rocking frame at thesaid discharge end of the conveyor having a rotatable barextendingtransversely of the conveyor and beneatfrwhich the sheet'units'are delivered to the receiver, saidbar 'forming' one end roller of adefective" sheet' carry-o'ff conveyor, and means fOnrocking' saidframein a direction to lower thee"nd o'f'the*carry oficonveyor to aposition with respect to 'the'first conveyor to receive a defectivesheet'from the'first conveyor and carry thesame 'away 'from the sheetreceiver;

7; Apparatus for cutting a continuous web into sheet"-form'-"'andseparating the defective sheets irom'perfect'sheets; comprising ascanning meansov'er 'whichthe web passes, means for'cuttingthe web afterthe same passes the sca'nning'means, a fixedrrlarker adjacent to the.

web' and to the central part of' the scanning means ,-a m'ovablemarkersupported for continuous repeated movement in the direction of movementor the web and'through' a distance substantially equaling the length ofthe scanning means over which the web passes, the apparatus being soconstructed 'and' arranged that upon movement of said movable indicatorinto a predetermined relation with the fixed indicator there will existbetween the indicators and the cutter a length of web which is amultiple of the length of the sheet being cut, an electrically actuatedthrow-off means for defect bearing sheet units and following saidcutter, an endless belt disposed adjacent to the scanner and. carrying aplurality of spaced oscillatable trip members. one run of said beltmoving in the direction of movement of the web, manually controlledmeans adjacent the said one run of the belt for effecting the selectivetripping of said trip mem bers, an electric circuit controlling switchadjacent to the other run of said belt and controlling the operation ofsaid throw-off means, said switch being arranged to be closed by atripped trip member. and said switch being so disposed with respect tosaid manually controlled means that the time lag between actuation ofthe manually controlled means and the closing of the switch by thetripped member is sufficient for movement of an observed web defect fromthe markers pass the cutter whereby the defect will be contained in asheet unit and ejected by the throw-out means.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including a. vertically adjustableidler roller over which the web passes between the marker and thecutter. said idler roller by vertical adjustment facilitating varyingthe length of the sheet units.

9. An improved apparatus for cutting a continuous web into sheet formand simultaneously separating defective sheets from the sound sheets,comprising a sheet cutting machine, a deflector device. adapted on beingactuated to divert to a reject pile a sheet coming from the cutter. ascanning table over which the web passes before reaching the cutterpoint. means under the control of an operative whereby the deflectordevice may be rendered active after a predetermined lapse of time. andsaid scanning table being translucent and furnished with illuminaiiugmeansadapted to throw into greater prominence any defects appearing inthat part of the web overlying the scanning table.

10. An improved apparatus for cutting a continuous web into sheet formand simultaneously separating defective sheets from the sound sheets.comprising a sheet cutting machine, a deflector device adapted on beingactuated to divert to a reject pile a sheet coming from the cutter, ascanning table over which the web passes before reaching the cutterpoint. means under the control of an operative whereby the deflectordevice may be rendered active after a predetermined lapse of time, andmeans to indicate the times appropriate for actuating the control meansbrin in the deflector into an active condition. a

11. An improved apparatus for cutting a con-- tinuous web into sheetform and simultaneously separating defective sheets from the soundsheets. comprising a sheet cutting machine, a deflector device adaptedon being actuated to divert to a reject pile a sheet coming from thecutter. a scanning table over which the web passes before reaching thecutter point, means under the control of an operative whereby thedeflector device may be rendered active after a predetermined lapse oftime. and fixed and moving marker devices. arranged for use inconfunction with the scanning table, which by coinciding at intervalsdenote the proper instant for the actuation of the control means.

12. An improved apparatus for cutting a continuous \veb into sheet formand simultaneously separating defective sheets from the sound sheets.comprising a sheet cuttin machine, a deflector device adapted on beingactuated to divert to a reject pile a sheet coming from the cutter, ascanning table over which the web passes before reaching the cutterpoint, means under the control of an operative whereby the deflectordevice may be rendered active after a predetermined lapse of time, anendless conveyor, and a series of displaceable elements carried by theconveyor, actuation of the control means causing displacement of one ofsaid elements. the said displaced element being adapted after travelinga suitable distance and time to transmit an impulse bringing into actionthe sheet deflector device. 4

13. An improved apparatus for cutting a continuous web into sheet formand simultaneously separating defective sheets from the sound sheets,comprising a sheet cutting machine, a deflector device adapted on beingactuated to divert to areject pile a sheet coming from the cutter, ascanning table over which the web passes before reaching the cutterpoint. means under the control of an operative whereby the deflectordevice may be rendered active after a predetermined lapse of time, andtwo separate control devices for the apparatus as and for the purposeherein described.

14. An improved apparatus for cutting a continuous web into sheet formand simultaneously separating defective sheets from the sound sheets,comprising a sheet cutting machine, a deflector device adapted on beingactuated to divert to a reject pile a sheet coming from the cutter, ascanning table over which the web passes before reaching the cutterpoint, means under the control of an operative whereby the deflectordevice may be rendered active after a predetermined lapse of time, amember sensitive to impulses derived from the control means, and thesaid sheet deflector device being normally retained in an inoperativecondition by said member.

15. An improved apparatus for cutting a continuous web into sheet formand simultaneously separating defective sheets from the sound sheets,comprising a sheetcutting machine, a deflector device adapted on beingactuated to divert to a reject pile a sheet coming from the cutter, ascanning'table over which the web passes before reaching the cutterpoint. means under the control of an operativ whereby the deflectordevice um; be rendered active after a predetermined lapse of time, andan intermittently acting drive mechanism timed in synchronism with thecutie:- iar bringing the sheet deflector into an operative condition.

16. An improved apparatus for cutting a continuous web int-o form andsimultaneously separating defective sheets from he sound sheets.comprising sheet cutting machine. a deflector device adapted on beingactuated to divert to a reject pile a sheet coming from the cutter, ascanning table over which the web passes before reaching the cutterpOilll. means under the control of an operative whereby the deflectordevice may be rendered active after a predetermined lapse of time. and acounting register driven from the sheet cutting mechanism and providedwith means for correcting the reading of the counter on occasions whendefective sheets are delivered.

PHILIP TOM GOLDNEY. ALFRED GEORGE HINGLEY.

